Grow Guide to Arugula

Eruca sativa

Plant Description

Arugula is a fast-growing leafy green known for its peppery bite and distinct, lobed leaves. With a flavor often described as nutty, spicy, or mustard-like, it adds character to salads and sandwiches and matures quickly—perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting.

This cool-season crop is easy to grow and performs well in containers, raised beds, or directly in garden soil. It's a favorite for early spring and fall plantings, offering nutritious greens in just a few weeks.

Quick Facts

  • Sunlight: Full sun preferred; partial shade tolerated, especially in hot climates.
  • Days to Sprout: 5–10 days.
  • Days to Harvest: 30–40 days for full-size leaves; baby greens in ~20 days.
  • Plant Spacing: 6 inches between plants for full-size growth; closer spacing (2–3 inches) for baby greens.
  • Seeds per Hole: 3 seeds per hole; thin to strongest seedling or harvest young.
  • Plant Type: Annual (can reseed easily if allowed to flower).
  • Planting Depth: ¼ inch deep.

Best Planting Locations

  • Garden Beds: Thrives in full sun with well-draining, fertile soil. Perfect for early and late-season greens.
  • Containers: Grows well in pots or window boxes—ideal for quick harvests and space-saving salad greens.
  • Raised Beds: Excellent drainage and temperature control make these ideal for tender greens like arugula.
  • Shady Spots (in Summer): Partial shade helps extend the harvest season and reduces bolting in warm weather.

Getting Started

  1. Direct Sow: Arugula prefers being direct seeded in the garden or container. Sow seeds thinly and cover lightly.
  2. Soil Needs: Fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Add compost before planting for best results.
  3. Thinning: Thin to 4–6 inches apart once true leaves appear for large leaves, or harvest thinnings as baby greens.

Companion / Enemy Plants

Good Companions: Lettuce, spinach, carrots, onions, and beets.

Avoid Planting Near: Other brassicas (like kale or broccoli) in the same spot season after season to prevent pest buildup.

Attractants / Repellents

Attracts: Pollinators if allowed to flower.

Repels: Some soil pests; its scent can confuse cabbage moths and flea beetles (though they may also be attracted).

When to Plant

  • Spring: As soon as soil can be worked (4–6 weeks before last frost).
  • Fall: 6–8 weeks before first expected frost for autumn harvests.

Maintenance

  • Watering: Keep soil evenly moist. Drought stress increases bitterness and speeds up bolting.
  • Fertilizing: Incorporate compost into soil before planting; additional feeding is rarely necessary.
  • Pest Control: Use row covers early to prevent flea beetle damage; keep soil clean and rotate crops annually.

Harvest

  • Pick baby leaves starting ~20 days after sowing. For full-size leaves, harvest around 30–40 days.
  • Cut outer leaves 1 inch above the base to encourage regrowth, or harvest entire heads as needed.
  • Flavor peaks just before flowering. Bolted plants can become bitter.

Uses

  • Salads: Peppery arugula adds bold flavor to mixed greens and standalone salads.
  • Pesto: Swap out basil for a sharp, tangy twist on traditional pesto.
  • Garnish: Add fresh leaves to pizzas, sandwiches, or grain bowls for a spicy kick.
  • Cooked: Lightly wilt into pasta, risotto, or soups for a mellowed, savory green.

How to Store

  • Refrigeration: Rinse and dry completely. Store loosely in a container with a dry paper towel in the fridge. Use within 3–5 days.
  • Freezing: Not ideal for fresh texture. Best used in cooked recipes if frozen after blanching and drying.